Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

To put the government's position on both of the amendments on the record: as I understand it, Ms Spender from the other place had sought to have a motion that could unify the parliament and that we could all agree on. As such, we committed to not amend the motion that had been circulated. We will not be supporting Senator Paterson's amendment, because it not only amends the motion but falls outside the motion Ms Spender sought to have passed. There are other places to discuss mandatory minimums, as is appropriate, but we would argue that this motion, as sought by the other place, is not the place for that debate.

Similarly, with respect to Senator Thorpe's amendment, this place has spoken against all forms of racism on a number of occasions that I have been part of and has passed motions that have been put to this chamber for debate. We are very happy to support a motion like that. I would think every senator in this place is against every form, and constantly speaks out about any form, of racism. But this is a specific motion about antisemitism. Ms Spender has sought to have the motion considered in both chambers and, as such, we won't be supporting either amendment.